Men do not fail; they give up trying.

Hear the bold words of Elihu Root, a statesman of America and a man of resolute mind, who declared: “Men do not fail; they give up trying.” In this saying is contained a flame of courage, a challenge to the faint-hearted, and a reminder to all who strive that true defeat lies not in outward loss, but in the inward decision to abandon effort. For as long as the hand works, as long as the heart hopes, as long as the spirit presses forward, no man has failed—he is still in the arena, still alive with the possibility of victory.

The essence of the saying rests on the distinction between failure and surrender. Failure, the world says, comes when the outcome does not match the goal. But Root pierces deeper: outcomes are not the measure of a man. What destroys a soul is not the falling short of a prize, but the extinguishing of will, the refusal to rise again. A man who falls and rises is not a failure; he is a struggler, a warrior, still upon the path. Only when he casts aside the path, when he lays down his arms and refuses to strive, has he truly failed.

History bears witness to this truth. Consider Thomas Edison, who in his quest to harness the light of electricity tested thousands of filaments, each one breaking, each one burning out. When asked if he had failed, he answered that he had merely discovered a thousand ways that did not work. He did not give up trying, and because of his persistence, he gifted the world with the electric light. By Root’s wisdom, Edison never failed—not once—for his will endured until success crowned his effort.

Or consider the immortal example of Abraham Lincoln. He suffered defeat after defeat in politics, business, and even in love. He lost elections, fell into debt, and endured despair so deep it nearly destroyed him. Yet he rose again each time, continuing the struggle, until at last he became President and guided a nation through its darkest hour. If Lincoln had measured himself by outward loss, he would have been called a failure. But because he never ceased to strive, he embodied Root’s truth: men do not fail; they give up trying.

This wisdom is not only for inventors and leaders but for every soul. In love, in learning, in labor, the same law applies. A marriage does not fail because it suffers trials; it fails only when two hearts cease to try. A student does not fail because he stumbles on a problem; he fails only when he ceases to study. A worker does not fail because his efforts go unnoticed; he fails only when he surrenders his dignity and refuses to labor with pride. True defeat is never imposed by the world—it is chosen in the heart when the will gives way.

The lesson, then, is mighty and clear: do not surrender to despair. Let your trials be your teachers, not your end. Remember that each setback is but a stepping stone, each obstacle a chance to strengthen the spirit. Only those who continue to try, even unto the last breath, can be said to have lived with honor. For the crown of life does not belong to the one who never stumbles, but to the one who refuses to remain upon the ground.

Practical is this counsel: when you meet with hardship, do not ask, “Have I failed?” but instead ask, “Am I still trying?” If the answer is yes, then you are still on the road, still alive in the struggle, still unbroken. Surround yourself with those who remind you of this truth, for despair thrives in solitude but is weakened by encouragement. Write Root’s words upon your heart, and let them drive you to rise again when the world would tell you to stop.

So remember Elihu Root’s wisdom: “Men do not fail; they give up trying.” Let it be your shield against despair, your sword against fear, your banner in the battle of life. For as long as you strive, you live; as long as you endure, you triumph; and as long as you refuse to give up, you are never—never—a failure.